If you’re like me, you’ve been obsessed with Mary Louise Parker since Fried Green Tomatoes. Her sweet southern appeal doesn’t stop, and this year’s Emmy Awards was no exception. She down-right dazzled in a pulled-together-but-not-overdone way, as she sashayed down the red carpet in her perfectly purple Zac Posen.

Makeup Artist Tina Turnbow shares her secrets to creating Ms. Parker’s classically (and casually) elegant Emmy look with you, our dear Face Parlour readers:

Face. Because Mary-Louise has porcelain skin, Tina kept her face looking pristine by applying Maybelline New York Dream Liquid Mousse in Classic Ivory – with touches of Maybelline New York Dream Mousse Concealer in Light under the eyes and to the tops of the cheeks to give a contoured look.

Cheeks. To compliment her ivory skin, Tina brushed on Maybelline New York Mineral Power Naturally Luminous Blush in Gentle Pink to the apples of the cheeks to give the look of a soft natural flush.

Eyes. Tina’s inspiration for Mary-Louise’s entire look was the gorgeous opal-toned smoky eye she created with Maybelline New York Expert Wear Stylish Smokes in Amethyst Smokes. Tina used all four shades in the palette to play up her eyes and add drama; the deep purples complemented her creamy skin and dark hair. She then followed with Maybelline New York Line Stiletto Liquid Eyeliner in Black on the upper and lower lash lines. To showcase the gorgeous jewel tones of the shadows, Tina only applied one coat of Maybelline New York Pulse Perfection Vibrating Mascara in Very Black.

Lips. For a barely-there, neutral lip, Tina lined the entire mouth with Maybelline New York Color Sensational Lip Liner in Toast. She then followed up with Maybelline New York Color Sensational Lipstick in Nearly There.

Body. To complete the look, a soft dusting of Maybelline New York Mineral Power Illuminator in Nude was brushed along her collar bones, arms and legs for a red carpet glow.

Definitely a winning look!

It’s been a busy few months that included moving from San Francisco to Austin, discovering I’m pregnant and deciding to pursue my dream of building a company.

It’s good things come in threes. I don’t think this newly knocked-up, returning Texan entrepreneur could handle much more.

Pregnancy and a cross-country move are hard enough, but layer on the stress of launching a new company and I may have aged a decade this summer. For a few months now, I’ve been holed up with my team building The Skinny – the first online, members-only sample sale for skincare products (i.e. luxury skincare brands at affordable prices).

But one thing is clear, pregnancy hormones aside, all the stress is taking a toll on my skin. “The mind and skin are connected on many different levels,” psychodermatogist Karin Mallin explained in an interview with WebMD. “A lot of nerve endings are connected to the skin, which wraps around the organs, so as emotions are played out neurologically, they can be expressed through the skin just as stress can be expressed through gastrointestinal symptoms, increased anxiety, or hypertension.”

At one point recently, while trying my darnedest to control a sudden bout of adult acne and an unruly to-do list, I got to the end of my rope. I decided to outline five things I need to do every day to make myself more productive, energetic, attractive to my husband and (if all goes well) sane. I jotted them down here, and thought maybe they could help some other stressed soul:

• Workout. This is a non-negotiable, so I drag myself away from the computer and around Town Lake or over to Black Swan Yoga any chance I get.
• Walk dog. Nothing relieves stress like a stroll along Auditorium Shores with my husband and our Bernese mountain dog/squirrel-hunter extraordinaire.
• Invest in my skin. What can I say? Skincare is my business. But as my stress level goes up, my breakouts do too. Currently loving Dr. Ladd’s Pumpkin Clarifying Mask.
• Ditch the TV. I haven’t had a television since college, but that’s not to say I don’t take in my fair share of Hulu. During high-stress time, I opt for a book. Currently wrapping up Loving Frank.
• Get a housekeeper. Ok, I still haven’t done this. Regardless, I sleep better in a clean house. This to-do just became my next priority!

Do you have skincare concern that you suspect is brought on by stress? I’d love to hear about it! I may even have a few helpful tips to share.

The global economic crisis arguably hit Iceland the hardest. Yet despite 10% unemployment, debt that exceeds 850% of GDP and national bankruptcy, one woman believes that this once sleepy island possesses the world’s antidote to stress and the secret to beautiful skin.

Sarah Kugelman is the founder of skyn Iceland, a skincare company offering natural solutions for stressed skin, and an expert in how to and how not to manage stress.

Kugelman is the type of person that could inspire a hit Hollywood television series. She’s beautiful (gorgeous really), ambitious and Ivy League educated. She held senior marketing positions at Bath & Body Works, L’Oréal, and Bloomingdale’s, before becoming a wife, mother and entrepreneur.

But in 1995, her doctor told her stress was taking a toll on her health and her skin, “[I]f I didn’t learn to decompress, I would not live to see my fortieth birthday. My stress was not only making me critically ill but also wreaking havoc on my skin. I had cystic acne, scars, and incredible dehydration.”

So Kugelman took a break from corporate life and took an interest in psychodermatology, which analyzes the relationship between stress and the skin. If the field is new to you, you’re not alone. According to Dr. Ted Grossbart, as assistant clinical profession at Harvard Medical School, “Psychodermatology is not an official field. It’s an informal designation for the territory between conventional medical dermatology and the mental health disciplines.” Either way, it’s fascinating and growing (fast).

As Sarah points out, “[W]hen stress becomes chronic and hormone levels remain elevated, it triggers a combination of symptoms including irritation and inflammation. [N]utrients are drawn away from the skin, so it is not able to heal. This domino effect manifests in the form of excess oil, breakouts, dehydration, irritation and can lead to premature aging.”

If this sounds dire, don’t dismay… skyn Iceland offers a solution! In spite of its economic turmoil, Iceland remains rich in natural resources, which Sarah and her team bottle and deliver to Sephora shelves across the country.

“Research into the local environment found that mineral-rich glacial waters and potent, antioxidant-rich botanicals were ideal, renewable-source ingredients for my skincare products. Utilizing my 19 years of experience developing beauty products for some of the biggest names in the business, I was able to combine these natural ingredients with the most advanced skincare science. The result: products that help relieve, heal and replenish chronically stressed skin,” says Kugelman.

Thanks to Kugelman, you can stress about the economy… about swine flu… about diplomatic relations with Pakistan, but you don’t have to stress about your skin! Here are Kugelman’s stress-free skin secrets:
• Get 7 hours or more of sleep.
• Go to yoga, acupuncture and get massages.
• Drink water… constantly.
• Cleanse morning and night.
• Use skyn Iceland only and daily!

Want experience the skyn Iceland for yourself? Face Parlour recommends starting with The Antidote Quenching Daily Moisturizer, which offers a cooling, nourishing “splash” of glacial goodness. You may also want to try Kugelman’s favorite – The Oxygen Infusion Night Cream, “I can’t live without that healing, warming effect before bedtime that turns into clear, flawless, radiant skin by morning.”

For more information about skyn Iceland and its founder, visit www.skyniceland.com.

Getting a facial can sometimes seem a bit like taking your vitamins. You know they’re good for you, but you don’t necessarily see a difference. This was definitely not the case after my first visit to Alisha Valverde of Medical Skin Aesthetics!

Alisha is like the Mary Poppins of skincare. She’s as gentle as she is direct, and she’s got countless tricks in her “carpet bag”… err, arsenal. Walking out of her office, my skin looked and felt unbelievable, but the truest testament of her facial je ne sais quoi came when friends and family took notice.

I visited her office nearly six weeks ago, yet I continue to receive compliments. Close friends ask if I got Botox. Colleagues tell me something looks different, but they can’t put their finger on it. My mother asks if I’m pregnant (which I’m not). I’ve received countless facials and skincare treatments over the years, but this response was delightfully unexpected… and so was my experience.

I traded my much loved spa robes, lavender-scented eye bags and soothing massage for results (and the occasional horn honk). Assuming you can get an appointment (no small feat), she makes you feel like you’re her only client. She doesn’t believe in selling during her 90 minute service, so everything from a chemical peel to an eyebrow wax to a lash tint is included in the manageable $125 experience.

And while I don’t mean to be cryptic, she has a secret. I promised I wouldn’t share it, so you’ll simply have to give her a call to experience her phenomenal service for yourself.

She’ll make you want to go fly a kite… with non-chemical sunscreen, of course!

To totally fab skin,

Lauren
PS Tell her hello from Face Parlour!

I know you visit Face Parlour for the latest and greatest in skincare, but I have to share my latest obsession with you:

Sherry Olsen, a Bay Area-based artist, whose whimsical work delights and charms.

I hope you enjoy her work as much as I do!

For more information, visit sherryolsen.net.

If anyone can justify an impulsive spa day, it’s me. But even I admit, it seems a little overindulgent in today’s economic climate. So what’s a gal with clogged pores and uneven skin tone to do?

Two words: Inspired Skincare.

The low-key, cottage environment located in San Francisco’s Marina District is a welcome contrast to the glitz, flash and glamour of spas of yesteryear.

Kristin, the spa’s owner, is a striking brunette with a very practical approach to clear skin, plus she’s not big on the hard sell (a personal pet-peeve, not to mention total buzz-kill).

Her nibble fingers immediately go to work buffing and polishing away imperfections, so you walk out glowing for your date, opening night or a cozy night on the sofa.

Partial to products that are natural yet effective, Kristin features the Cosmedix line, and she offers a range of services that sound good enough to eat. Blueberry Smoothie or a Pomegranate Peel, anyone?

So if you’re looking for a little skinspiration, swing by Inspired Skincare and tell them we sent you!

* Inspired Skincare is located at 3623 Buchanan at Bay in San Francisco. To make an appointment, call 415.440.3900 or email kristin@inspiredskincare.com.